Social partners disagree about new EU regulations.

With the proposed legal act on high-quality jobs, the European Commission is planning new regulations to improve working conditions in Europe. The initiative is part of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's political guidelines for 2024–2029 and is expected to be fleshed out in 2026. However, already in the first phase of the social partner consultation, clear differences emerged about the role of the EU and the need for further legislation – with potentially far-reaching consequences for occupational safety, prevention and social security systems.

Consensus about problems – conflict about regulation

There is broad agreement among the social partners on the key challenges facing modern labour markets. Digitalisation, demographic change, new forms of work and far-reaching transformation processes are placing increasing pressure on the quality of work. Psychosocial risks, algorithmic management, telework, subcontracting chains and the consistent enforcement of existing regulations are considered particularly relevant in this context.

The dispute centres on the choice of instrument: while the trade unions (ETUC, CESI) are calling for a binding legislative Quality Jobs Act with EU minimum standards – particularly in the areas of occupational health and safety – the employers’ organisations (BusinessEurope, SGI Europe, SMEunited) reject new horizontal regulation and instead advocate simplification, better implementation of existing legislation and social dialogue.

Occupational safety as a political lever

The area of occupational health and safety is particularly prone to conflict. Trade unions see significant protection gaps here – for example in mental health, workplace violence and digital work organisation – and are pushing for new EU regulations. Employers, on the other hand, warn against over-regulation and additional burdens.

The debate is of strategic importance for accident insurance in Germany: a legislative act for high-quality jobs could lead to new EU requirements in occupational safety, with implications for prevention priorities, advisory work and regulations. At the same time, the preventive approach of German accident insurance would receive greater attention at European level.

The process is also relevant for statutory health insurance funds. The close connection between job quality and health is placing increasing focus on work-related mental illnesses, workplace health promotion and prevention.

Focus on enforcement and social dialogue

Another point of contention is the enforcement of employee rights. While trade unions are calling for a stronger role for the EU, employers are relying on national responsibilities and advice instead of control. For Germany, this raises the strategic question of how possible EU regulations would affect the tried and tested interaction of state supervision, self-administration and social security.

Outlook

Following feedback from the social partners, the European Commission sees scope for further EU measures and will initiate a second round of consultations. The Quality Jobs Act will thus set the course for European social policy and a test case for the future balance between competitiveness, social protection and prevention at EU level. It is important for the German Social Insurance to accompany this process at an early stage and to visibly bring its expertise in prevention and occupational health and safety into the European debate. Only through active participation in the next phase of the consultation process can one influence the concrete design.